Mitchell's 5th Birthday

Mitchell's 4th Birthday

Mitchell's 3rd Birthday

Feb 2010

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

MRI Results May '11

Good news! Tumor is stable with no new lesions and the degree of enhancement on the post contrast images has marginally decreased. (In layman's terms, his tumor's sponginess has decreased, which means his medicines are working.) We're very grateful and know that our combined faith is contributing! Thank you everyone.

2 comments:

I haven't blogged or checked blogs for a really long time until the last few days. I really enjoyed checking up on you guys and Mitchell. I am so very happy to read that things are improving. You are still constantly in our thoughts and prayers. My heart aches for Mitchell and his desires to play. He is an amazing little guy. Thanks for the updates. Make a Wish looked awesome!

Mitchell's Story

Mitchell showed his first symptom April 12, 2010. He was putting his shoes on and looked up at me and I noticed his eyes track in opposite directions. Obviously that sent chills up my spine and I immediately began calling doctors and no one would see him or seemed to think it was a big deal. After it continued a few days and I insisted they see my child, we took him in and our pediatrician agreed something wasn't right. Several doctors later and multiple random diagnoses, we took him to Seattle Children's on April 16th where he was administered an MRI. That scan showed a small tumor that the drs thought was on the brainstem and when I continued to ask the hows/whys they told me not to worry.

I worried all summer long and into the fall until on November 10, 2010 he woke up gagging. I thought he must have the stomach flu and coddled him all day. Around lunchtime it was obvious something serious was wrong because his muscles were shaking and he couldn't walk. We had just had a check-up on November 8 and although we voiced concerns about his eyes drooping, the doctor came up with some strange reason. When we called him about the muscle weakness we were told to go immediately to Seattle Children's. That hour of preparation was one of the worst of our lives. We prayed and cried then left not knowing what awaited us in Seattle. An MRI revealed the tumor had tripled in size. Mitchell's muscle weakness worsened by the minute. In the next couple of days he wouldn't be able to walk at all or lift his left arm. Friday, November 12 he went in for a biopsy to hopefully know what kind of a tumor we were dealing with. Although inconclusive, enough was gathered to diagnose him with a high-grade brainstem glioma.

We began radiation December 6th and finished January 26th during which time he took small doses of temodar--a chemotherapy drug. From February 28th, 2011 until January 23, 2012 he was on a maintenance plan of temodar, irinotecan, and bevacuzimab.

Mitchell's symptoms returned a few months after we finished chemotherapy. They began with severe impulsive behavioral issues that no one could identify a cause for and Mitchell clearly felt bad about. We had some mixed MRI results in May and June, but by then it was clear the tumor was growing. Mitchell declined over the summer but fought hard for his time. He passed away peacefully Sept. 2, 2012 in his daddy's arms. We miss you Mitchell and love you...Always and forever...No matter what!